In this alumni profile, we interview Grant Li, former TMT analyst at Capstone.
Getting Lost in the City
In a city of great expectations, how do you reconcile your present with your past?
That’s what Grant Li set out to do when he left Capstone in February 2024 and joined Raymond James & Associates Inc. in New York. His journey got off to a bumpy start, however. “During my first few weeks, the other associate on the team ended up leaving, so I was on my own after that to figure things out,” Grant said. “I was told early on that it would be like drinking out of a fire hose, and I found that to be true.”
Meanwhile, the clock was ticking to meet the required license and certification qualifications. Within months of starting at the financial services company, Grant sat for the SIE, Series 86, Series 87, and finished up with the Series 63. Each exam presented a challenge, but he stuck with it through late nights and long weekends and checked each off one by one. “I learned a lot, but I’m glad they’re over with,” he says.
Now and Then
As an Equity Research Associate at Raymond James, Grant updates models on companies the investment bank and financial services firm covers, helps write notes on their financials, and tracks news flow on names in his team’s coverage.
As part of the semiconductors team, he follows major companies, products, markets, and how they interact. His job sits on several intersections, Grant says, from different hardware components to networking equipment and even software. “It’s been really eye-opening diving through the entire supply chain and better understanding the different technology trends that are driving the semis industry,” he explains.
He credits his time as an Associate at Capstone for helping to pave the way. “Capstone helped me better develop the skills for communicating and note writing,” Grant says. “I had valuable guidance and learned how to both work on my own and as a member of a team.” He started as a Pathway intern at Capstone and returned after graduating to join the company’s TMT team. He covered the technology sector and regularly wrote notes for capital market and private equity clients.
What’s Ahead
Grant has found that in a city of great expectations, anything is possible. “Now that I’m done with studying, I’ve been exploring,” he says. Over the past few months, he’s taken a tour of the city’s museums, including the Met, Natural History Museum, MoMA, Whitney Museum, New York Historical Society, and the Guggenheim. He’s also gotten to meet up with other Capstone Alumni who are now calling New York home. “It’s like I never left,” he adds.
See more Capstone alumni profiles here.
